The renowned scientist visited the "Luc Montagnier pavilion" at the Chantal Biya Foundation last Thursday in Yaounde.

As dance groups within the premises of the Chantal Biya Foundation (FCB) exhibited their talent to say good bye to Professor Luc Montagnier, the happiness expressed by the administration and workers of the Foundation translated the good news the renowned scientist had just announced. Pr Montagnier said "there is hope as research is proving that one day somebody who is HIV positive can become HIV negative". The 2008 Nobel Prize Winner in Medicine and co-discoverer of the HIV virus was at the Chantal Biya Foundation last Thursday to visit a structure named after him: "Pavilion Luc Montagnier", inaugurated two years ago by the First Lady, Mrs Chantal Biya.

Pr Montagnier said in over 25 years, progress has been made in research on HIV. With research results that indicate that there is possibility to reduce the viral load of HIV. The HIV co-discoverer said they are currently working on HIV resistance viruses. If positive results are obtained in tackling HIV resistance viruses, one day an HIV positive patient can become negative.

The active scientist, who is the vice-president of the management committee of the "Chantal Biya" International Reference Centre for Research on HIV and AIDS Prevention and Management, was just from one of its annual sessions. He went to FCB to discover for himself the Pavilion Luc Montagnier an out-patients unit that handles health problems particularly with children. As he went round with the Secretary General of FCB, Habissou Bidoung and other dignitaries, to the unit to fight sickle cell, gastro-anteriology unit and the physiotherapy and acupuncture unit, Prof. Montagnier expressed satisfaction with the capacity and size of the structure. "I am moved to see that children in the centre are well treated from many deadly diseases. I will keep in touch with the administration of the hospital when need be", the Nobel Prize Winner for Medicine told the press.

The Pavilion Luc Montagnier is situated within the confines of the Chantal Biya Foundation in Yaounde. It is part of the general set-up that constitutes the mother and child centre of the foundation. The two-storey building has a well-quipped laboratory with echography and radiology facilities. A scientific library, conference hall and offices are also found in the building.